Pine Forest entrance considered
By Bill Lawson / Staff Writer / blawson@maumellemonitor.com
Thursday, February 4, 2010 12:01 PM CST
At the Jan. 28 planning commission meeting plans for another entrance into Pine Forest Elementary School dominated discussion, even though the plans aren’t finalized and weren’t on the agenda.
Alderman Jamie Stell asked the commission about an alternative entrance.
At the December meeting the commission asked architects for the school to remove a right-turn-only sign on a new south exit for the school.
A $5 million renovation of the school would attempt to alleviate some of the traffic congestion with a new exit out of the parking lot, which will be expanded.
Stell inquired if a new route could be designed that exited the school parking lot on the west side and went through or near the Jess Odom Community Center east parking lot.
City Attorney JaNan Davis said there could be easement issues and she questioned whether the parking lot was built to street standards.
Mayor Mike Watson said the city is studying a cul-de-sac which would allow drivers to turn around. It would be located on Pine Forest Drive before the entrance into the parking lot near Lake Valencia.
He said the city is also studying creating a new street that would bypass the private parking lot .
Watson said the new street could skirt the lot by going around it on the west side, but it would require acquiring a right-of-way through property owned by three parties.
Watson said there are safety issues involved in each situation. He said parents drop children off at the Maumelle Library and even at the community center and kids dart through the trees, across streets and parking lots without paying attention. He said a new street would create safety problems regardless where it went.
Tim Clark, president of the Pulaski County Special School District, said no one had approached him to discuss the issue. He said construction on the renovation project is slated to begin within two months and any changes need to be made soon.
Acting Superintendent Rob McGill said he and Watson had met at the school and talked about how to solve the problem. He said the circle drive, or cul-de-sac is definitely in the plans and they were also looking at the new round that circumvented the parking lot.
McGill said a new in and out entrance and a separate exit will help to alleviate the problem but he was open to suggestions from the city and others.
